Drill bit dressing and conditioning apparatus



Sept. 24, 1963 3,104,561

DRILL BIT DRESSING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS R. A. MITCHELL 4 Sheets-Sheet l Eli/VI INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Filed May 2, 1961 Sept. 24, 1963 R. A. MITCHELL 3,104,551

DRILL BIT DRESSING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed May 2; 1961 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l I l -l l I. I

nnmmmfn l l\ w c a v t\ xE'fi/V/rcHsLL N. INVENTOR BY I Y I 1 ATTORNEYS Filed May 2, 1961 Sept. 24, 1963 R. A. MITCHELL 3,104,551

DRILL BIT DRESSING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 EHJV/ TCHELL INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Sept. 24, 1963 R. A. MITCHELL 3,104,561

DRILL BIT DRESSING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed May 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 EA, Ml T-OHELL INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,104,561 DRILL BIT DRESSING AND CONDITIONING APPARATUS Roscoe A. Mitchell, 521 E. 12th, Bowling Green, Ky. Filed May 2, 1961, Ser. No. 107,140. 3 Claims. (Cl. 76-5) This invention relates to an apparatus designed for dressing and conditioning various sized drill bits such as used in well drilling or drilling blast or shot holes.

By way of illustration, it might be stated that drill bit dressing and conditioning apparatus of this character is exceptionally inexpensive to purchase and operate, particularly, when the accepted method involves the use of inter-changeable dies, and bit patterns of different sizes and designs for each size and designed drill bits being dressed or conditioned. Several difierent sizes of drill bits can be dressed or conditioned without any change of size of the individual apparatus by changing the inner parts as stated.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide an apparatus embodying a hammer having removable interchangeable dies, so constructed and arranged that they may be readily and easily changed, thereby adapting a single machine for accomplishing the dressing and conditioning of various types of drill bits.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which includes a horizontal tubular support in which the drill bit under treatment is held during the dressing and conditioning operation, means being provided within the tubular support for horizontally aligning and centering the drill bit with the hammer used in dressing and conditioning the bit, thereby to insure an accurate and true formation of the cutting elements or blades of the dressed or conditioned drill bit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tubular supporting housing for holding the bit during the dressing and conditioning operation, the housing being split longitudinally, dividing the housing into a base section and a hinged cover section, which hinged cover section may be swung to an open position expo-sing the base in such a way that the drill bits regardless of size or shape may be positioned by lowering them horizontally within the housing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for maintaining the cover closed against opening under the impact of the hammer in the operation of dressing and conditioning the drill bit under treatment.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a drill bit dressing or conditioning apparatus which may be used in conditioning drill bits of diameters ranging from one and one quarter inches to twenty two inches by merely changing the hammer and bit portions and supporting tube to accommodate the particular drill bit being dressed or reconditioned, the basic machine structure remaining the same.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide means for securely holding the bit against rolling or turning out of alignment under the impact and jar of the hammer during the operation of the apparatus.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawings.

\In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a drill bit dressing and conditioning appparatus, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE "2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through one end of the drill bit dressing and conditioning apparatus taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 2A is a sectional view taken on line 2A-2A of FIGURE 6, illustrating one end of the apparatus.

3,104,561 Patented Sept. 24, 1963 FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2A.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 2A.

FIGURE '6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken longitudinally through the hammer barrel of the apparatus.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged frag-mental sectional view illustrating the forming end of the hammer of the apparatus in section, prior to its contact with the drill bit being dressed or conditioned.

FIGURE 11 is an exploded view taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmental sectional view of one end of a modified form of inner tubular member.

FIGURE 13 is an exploded view illustrating a modified form of removable die used in dressing or conditioning drill bits used in drilling blast holes or shot holes, the working end of the drill bit and removable head being shown in section.

FIGURE 14 is an elevational view of a modified hammer.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the apparatus embodies a base indicated generally by the reference character 5, the base being formed preferably of longitudinal channel bars 6, connected by the transverse channel bars 7, which are shown as having their ends welded or otherwise secured to the channel bars 6.

Rising from the base 5, and bolted thereto, as by means of bolts 8, are frame standards 9 which are formed with cutout portions 10 formed in the upper ends thereof, which cutout portions 10 receive the extensions 11 extending from the lower side of the main tubular support oi the apparatus, to be hereinafter more fully described. As shown by FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the standards 9 are formed with openings to accommodate the threaded bolts 12, which have their inner ends fitted in openings formed in the extensions 11, thereby securing the tubular support firmly to the frame standards.

As better shown by FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the tubular support 13 is split longitudinally through substantially one half of its circumference, providing a base section 14 land a hinged cover section 15', the hinged cover section terminating short of the front end of the tubular support, as better shown by FIGURE 1 of the drawings.

Hinges 16 connect the hinged cover section to the base section, at one side of the tubular support so that the cover section may be readily swung firorn its horizontal or closing position, to an open position, to permit the drill bit, which may be exceptionally heavy, to be lowered into the tubular support for conditioning.

Extending from the upper side of the hinge cover section 15, are pairs of cars 17 between which the arms 18 of the cover actuating mechanism, are pivotally connected as by means of bolts 19.

The arms 18 are curved in the arcs of circles, and have pivotal connection with similar curved arms 20, as at 21.

These arms 20 are secured to the horizontal actuating shaft 22 which is mounted'in bearings formed in the upper ends of spaced uprights 23.

Also mounted in bearings on the uprights 23, is a shaft 24 to which the actuating lever 25 is secured, so that rotation of the actuating lever 25 will rotate the shaft 24. Paw-1 and ratchet mechanism indicated by the reference character 26 (see FIGURE 9) is mounted adjacent to the inner end of the actuating lever 25, so that upon movement of the actuating lever 25, the shaft 24 maybe rotated and held in its positions against reverse movement, by said pawl and ratchet mechanism.

As better shown by FIGURE 6 of the drawings, a segmental gear 27 is secured to the shaft 22 and is in mesh with the segmental gear 28 which is secured on the shaft 24. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, when the actuating lever is swung forwardly the segmental gear 28, will be rotated in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, resulting the rotation of the segmental gear 27, in the direction of the arrows shown thereon in FIGURE 6, with the result that the cover section of the tubular support 13 will be elevated and moved clear of the upper side of the base section .14, so that a heavy drill bit such as used in drilling oil wells, may be lowered into position within the tubular support 13.

In order that .the cover section 15 may be held in its closed position during the dressing or conditioning of the drill bit, pivoted bolts 29 are secured in spaced relation with respect to each other on the base section 14, the pivoted bolts being designed to swing upwardly to positions between the spaced ears 30 that extend laterally from the cover section 15 where they are clamped in position by means of the elongated nuts 31, which are formed with upstanding handles 32 for effecting rotation of the nuts 31 to tighten the cover in its closed position.

As shown by FIGUREZ of the drawings, an inner tubular member 33 is held within the tubular support 13, the tubular member 33 having internal threads 34 at one end thereof, that cooperate with external threads 35 for removably securing the tubular drill bit holding member 36 in position within the tubular member 33.

The inner tubular drill bit holding member is provided with a shoulder 37 spaced an appreciable distance from the threaded end thereof, and is held in position by means of the bolts 38 which pass through threaded openings in the tubular drill bit holding member 36, as shown by FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

As shown by FIGURE 2, the construction of the tubular drill bit holding member is such that channels 38 are provided, which channels are fed with oil through the oil cup 39, maintaining the end of the tubular drill bit holding member cool, during the operation of the apparatus.

An important feature of the apparatus is the construction and operation of the adjusting screws 46} that extend through threaded openings in the inner tubular drill bit holding member 36, the inner or pointed ends of the adjusting screws contacting the shank of the drill bit which in the present showing is indicated bythe reference character A. Directly opposite to the adjusting screws 40, are threaded bolts 41 which have their upper ends swivelled in blocks 42 that provide rests for the drill bit A, and at the same time permit the threaded bolts to operate for adjusting the drill bit A in a true and horizontal position for dressing and conditioning.

The reference character 42 indicates a conventional jack structure which includes a shank 43 carrying a yoke 44 at its upper end, the yoke being such that it will provide a rest for the rear end of the drill bit A under treatment. In the present showing as illustrated by FIGURE 1, the apparatus is in use in dressing and reconditioning a heavy drill "bit used in oil well drilling.

This jack is mounted on a carriage 45 that is supported on the wheels 46 that move over the rails 47 that are secured to the side rails of the frame of the apparatus.

The drill bit A, is provided with the usual threaded end 48 that fits in the threaded socket 49 that forms a part of the vertically movable sleeve 50 mounted on the vertical post 51 in contact with the metallic casing 52 that surrounds the major portion of the vertical post 51, as shown by FIGURE 2A.

The sleeve 59, is formed with a bearing member 53 in which the head 54 of the screw 55, is swivellcd, there being provided an operating handle 56 secured to one end of the screw 55, to effect rotation of the screw to maintain the drill bit being treated, against movement longitudinally of the tubular support 13, during the action of the hammer in dressing or conditioning the cutting end of the drill bit.

At the hammer end of the apparatus, is an upstanding frame indicated generally by the reference character 57 which embodies vertical bars 58 which are spaced apart, and arranged on opposite sides of the frame, as' better shown by FIGURE 3 of the drawings. 7

These bars 53 are provided with bearings 59 at their upper ends, and bearings 60 arranged at points intermediate the ends thereof.

The bearings 59 receive the ends of the crank shaft 60 which is provided with a sprocket 61 secured to one end thereof, the sprocket 61 and shaft 60 being rotated by means of the chain 62 which operates over the shaft 63 that has its ends mounted in bearings 60'. The shaft 63;

is also provided with a sprocket 64 over which the chain 62 operates.

Mounted on the shaft 63 is a sprocket 65' which is clutched to the shaft 63 by means of the clutch which in turn is controlled by means of the clutch rod 67 which is provided with a handle63 at one end thereof for elfectin-g movement of the clutch rod 67 to move the clutch,

member to clutch the shaft 63 and sprocket 65 together.

The reference character 69 indicates an electric motor the shaft 70 thereof supporting a sprocket 71 over which the chain 72 operates, the chain operating over the sprocket 65 to transmit rotary motion of the shaft 70 to the sprocket 65. The housing 73 houses a conventional clutch mechanism which is controlled by the control rod 74 for effecting operation of the conventional clutch not shown, whereby the shaft 70 may be thrown out of opera tion at will.

The crank portion of the crank shaft 60 isindicated by the reference character 75 as better shown by FIGURE 2 a of the drawings, the crank 75 being connected with the cylinder 76, through the medium of the yoke 77.

Mounted within the cylinder 76, is a rod 78 disposed in the opening 79 axially thereof, which rod operates formed in the piston 84 which slides in the cylinder 76 during the operation of the apparatus.

The cylinder 76 is provided with elongated openings 81 in opposite sides thereof, which openings accommodate the trmsverse pins 82 that are carried by the piston 80. Disposed between the inner end of the cylinder 76 and piston 80, is a coiled spring bias the piston outwardly, and provide a cushioning memher for the reciprocating hammer feature of the present invention. p

The hammer 84 as shown by FIGURE 2 of the draw- I ings, is designed for dressing and conditioning the cutting end of an elongated drill bit used in drilling wells, and is v shown more specifically by FIGURE 10 or" the drawings.

The end of the drill bit being indicated by the reference character A in FIGURE 10 of the drawings and as shown,

the hammer end is provided with a die '85 which includes a removable blade 86 that is forced into contact with the cutting end of the drill bit, during the dressing 01' conditioning of the drill bit. It might be here stated that the drill bit which is being dressed or conditioned, is in a heated condition when placed in the apparatus, so that the reciprocating contact of the hammer against the heated end of the drill bit will tend to reform the cutting end of the drill bit or sharpen the same.

In the showing as illustrated by FIGURE 13, the hammer is indicated by the reference character 87, which is provided with a dovetailed shaped opening 88 in which the dovetail extension 89 of the die 90 is removably held. Due to this construction, it will be seen that it is an easy matter to remove the die 90 and replace it with a die of a specific construction for accomplishing a specific work. I

As shown by FIGURE 13 of the drawings, a pair of 83 which operates to normally forming an important pins 91 are removably held in openings of the die 90 and have their pointed ends extended to positions where they will enter the water passageways 92 of the drill bit 93 under treatment, to maintain the drill bit passageways open, as the hammer is being moved against the cutting end of the drill bit to recondition the same.

It is obvious that as the removable hammer die 90 is positioned, the heads of the pins will contact the hammer 87 and be held against displacement.

It will also be noted that because of the manner of positioning the pins 91, they may be readily and easily replaced when they become dull and ineffective in accomplishing their particular purpose.

The standards 94 are arranged in spaced relation with respect to each other and at opposite sides of the main frame of the apparatus, the standards having bearing openings adjacent to the upper ends thereof, in which bearing openings are shafts 95 the shafts 95 having oppositely threaded sections 96 on which the collars 97 are threaded, the collars supporting vertical arms 98 that have threaded ooll-ars 99 at the upper ends thereof, the collars 99 providing supports for the adjusting screws 100 that are horizontally disposed and have their pointed ends extended through openings in the tubular support 13 and tubular member 33 as well as the tubular drill bit holding member 36, the pointed ends of the adjusting screws 100 contacting the drill bit A to properly adjust the same.

Secured on one end of the shaft 95, is an operating wheel 101 which when operated, will move vertical arms 98 and the adjusting screws 100 simultaneously towards or away from each other in order to adjust the drill bit to its true horizontal position in direct alignment with the hammer of the apparatus.

While I have shown and described a reciprocating hammer, it is to be understood that it is within the scope of the invention to install the conventional type of pneumatic actuating mechanism, not shown, should it be desired to accomplish the redressing and conditioning of the drill bit by subjecting the drill bit to continuous pressure.

The reference character 102 indicates a band brake which may be controlled by the operation of the brake lever 103, the brake or brake band 102 operating to brake the rotation of the shaft 60, when it is desired to stop the operation of the apparatus after the dressing and conditioning of the drill bit has been accomplished.

A modified form of inner tubular member is shown in FIGURE 12, in which the inner tubular member 104 is secured by bolts 105 instead of screw threads 35.

The modified hammer head as shown by FIGURE 14 of the drawings embodies a removable section 106 having an extension 107 fitted in socket 108 and secured by means of a threaded bolt 109.

In operation, a well drilling bit which is usually ex- 7 ceptionally heavy, and which in the present showing is indicated by the reference character A, is placed in the holding member 36 which is then positioned within the base section 14, and the adjusting screws properly adjusted to align the drill bit horizontally with the hammer, which operates through one end of the tubular support.

The motor is now set in motion, and the clutch 73 is operated to transmit power to the shaft 70 and the chain 72. The clutch 66 connects shaft 63 and chain 62 to the chain 72 thereby reciprocating the hammer into contact with the end of the drill bit being dressed or reconditioned.

It will of course be understood that the drill bit is placed in the tubular support while the drill bit is heated to the proper degree for conditioning, whereupon the reciprocating hammer will deform the dulled bit and resharpen the same.

While I have shown and described a drill bit as treated by a reciprocating hammer, it may be subjected to a progressive pressure, by pneumatic power means not shown.

When the apparatus is to be used in dressing or reconditioning drill bits used in forming blasts or shot holes, a removable head such as indicated at is provided and positioned in the hammer, so that the water passageways of the drill bit will be maintained open during the reciprocation of the hammer to contact the cutting end of the drill bit to recondition the same. The pins of course will move into the water passageways which extend to the cutting end of the bit and maintain the same open.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for dressing and conditioning various sized drill bits, comprising a base, frame standards rising from said base, a horizontal tubular support mounted on said frame standards, a tubular liner member secured within said horizontal tubular support, a split tubular drill bit holding member in which a bit under repair is positioned, secured within said horizontal tubular support, adjusting screws threaded through openings in said tubular support, tubular liner member and tubular bit holding member, the inner ends of said screws contacting a drill bit positioned in said tubular support, aligning said drill bit along the longitudinal axis of said tubular support, a hammer operating in one end of said tubular support, a die on said hammer, and means for operating said hammer for exerting pressure on said die forcing said die into contact with said drill bit under treatment, reconditioning the drill bit.

2. An apparatus or dressing and conditioning heated drill bits, comprising a horizontal tubular support having an open top, a cover for normally closing said open top, mechanism within said tubular horizontal support for aligning a drill bit along the horizontal axis of said tubular support, said aligning mechanism embodying horizontal adjusting screws operating through threaded openings in opposite sides of said horizontal tubular support, contacting a drill bit disposed horizontally within said tubular support, means for operating said adjusting screws simultaneously in opposite directions, gripping said drill bit, vertical adjusting screws extending into said tubular support gripping said drill bit, and a reciprocating harnmer operating in one end of said tubular support for exerting pressure on the cutting end of said drill bit, reconditioning the cutting end of said drill bit.

3. An apparatus for dressing and conditioning heated drill bits, comprising a horizontal tubular support having an open top, a cover for normally closing said open top, mechanism within said tubular horizontal support for aligning and supporting a drill bit along the horizontal axis oat said tubular support, said aligning mechanism embodying horizontal and vertical adjusting screws extending through said tubular support contacting the drill bit under treatment, a hammer mounted for reciprocation within one end of said horizontal tubular support, said hammer having a dovetailed opening in one end thereof, a removable die having a dovetailed extension commensurate with the groove and fitted within said groove removably securing the die to said piston, removable pins carried by said removable die, said pins being arranged in parallel relation with respect to each other adapted to pass into the water passageways of a bit, maintaining said water passageways open as said die moves into contact with said drill bit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 902,146 Gilson Oct. 27, 1908 2,645,138 Mitchart July 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 417,457 Great Britain Oct. 1, 1934 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND CONDITIONING VARIOUS SIZED DRILL BITS, COMPRISING A BASE, FRAME STANDARDS RISING FROM SAID BASE, A HORIZONTAL TUBULAR SUPPORT MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME STANDARDS, A TUBULAR LINER MEMBER SECURED WITHIN SAID HORIZONTAL TUBULAR SUPPORT, A SPLIT TUBULAR DRILL BIT HOLDING MEMBER IN WHICH A BIT UNDER REPAIR IS POSITIONED, SECURED WITHIN SAID HORIZONTAL TUBULAR SUPPORT, ADJUSTING SCREWS THREADED THROUGH OPENINGS IN SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT, TUBULAR LINER MEMBER AND TUBULAR BIT HOLDING MEMBER, THE INNER ENDS OF SAID SCREWS CONTACTING A DRILL BIT POSITIONED IN SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT, ALIGNING SAID DRILL BIT ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT, A HAMMER OPERATING IN ONE END OF SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT, A DIE ON SAID HAMMER, AND MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID HAMMER FOR EXERTING PRESSURE ON SAID DIE FORCING SAID DIE INTO CONTACT WITH SAID DRILL BIT UNDER TREATMENT RECONDITIONING THE DRILL BIT. 